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00.0Birmingham Bears’ test for a good start against Somerset
Somerset to win
Tournament: VITALITY T20 BLAST 2020 | Format: T20 | Venue: Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham, England | Toss: To Bowl
Bet NowIn the third game of the Central Group at the T20 Blast 2020, the Birmingham Bears would be taking on Somerset at their home ground. It will be the first game for both the sides this season. The Birmingham Bears had a poor run last season and the side will be looking to set things in order in the very first game.
The two sides looks well balanced in terms of youth and experience at the moment and this will make the game interesting. Due to the travel restrictions both the teams will miss out on some of their big international names and Bears are likely to take a bigger hit due to this factor. The stakes would be high for both the sides in the game and we expect it to be an interesting contest.
Will Rhodes will know the importance of a good start to the season. They played poorly last time around to finish second last in their group with just 4 wins in their 14 games. Like all other teams they are missing out on overseas players such as Chris Green and Ashton Agar. Rhodes will look up to his young players to come up with better performances this season.
They will need a good start from openers Sam Hain and Dom Sibley in the game. The pair put on good partnerships in the last season. Adam Hose, Will Rhodes and Ian Bell form a good middle order. Matthew Lamb and Michael Burgess would be expected to do the big hitting towards the end of the innings where they will be missing out on a player like Chris Green this season.
In the bowling department the side would rely on Henry Brookes and Chris Woakes to start well with the new ball. Olly Hannon-Dalby and Oily Stone would have big responsibility upon their shoulders to contain the batsmen in this game. The experience of Jeetan Patel with the ball is a big bonus for the side going into this game.
Will Rhodes (c), Michael Burgess (wk), Dom Sibley, Sam Hain, Ian Bell, Adam Hose, Mathew Lamb, Olly Hannon-Dalby, Chris Woakes, Jeetan Patel, Olly Stone
Tom Abell will captain the side in absence of regular skipper Lewis Gregory who is busy with the national side at the moment. They had a mixed bag of a season the previous year and Abell would be looking to begin this season with a perfect win. He has the resources to do well and shall look forward to his key players performing in this game.
Tom Banton and Steven Davies the new opening combination will look to lay a strong platform at the top. James Hildreth, Tom Abell and Edward Byrom have done well in the middle and the side will expect them to steer the innings together. Tom Lammonby and Roelof van der Merwe with their hitting abilities down the order shall look to do well for the side.
Max Waller will lead the new ball attack and have Jamie Overton to support him at the other end. The duo will be looking for early breakthroughs in the game. Roelof van der Merwe and Jamie Overton have also gained good experience and they will be expected to bowl tight lines. The presence of experienced Jack Leach in this attack adds to its strengths.
Tom Abell (c), Tom Banton (wk), Steven Davies, James Hildreth, Edward Byrom, Tom Lammonby, Roelof van der Merwe, Jamie Overton, Jack Leach, Jamie Overton, Max Waller
There are rains on the cards at Birmingham on August 28 and the skies would remain overcast. This will make the wicket conducive to fast bowling and batsmen will have to judge the new ball well. We don’t expect it to be a high scoring encounter and any score above 150 runs would be a good one on this surface.
Edgbaston, Birmingham is a bowler’s venue and over the years we have seen bowlers dominate in T20 games. The large size of the ground often makes it a challenge to score fours and sixes. Fast bowlers have always got good rewards from this surface and this isn’t the best wicket for spinners to bowl on.
It will be the first game of the season for both the sides and hence there would be some nerves. In recent T20 games are increasingly seeing sides wanting to bowl first and chase targets. With chances of overcast conditions during the day we expect the side choosing to bowl first upon winning the toss.
It will be the first game of the season for both the sides and both the camps would be eager to start the season on a winning note. The Birmingham Bears didn’t do well last season and the fact that they would be missing out on some of their key players compounds problems for them ahead of the game. Somerset on the other hand has better balance in its squad at the moment which is blessed to have several all-rounders. It will be a close game but Somerset has slight advantage going into this one.
Somerset to win
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